It’s so WEIRD walking through the first floor classrooms when there is absolutely no one there! Just a quiet reminder of the fun we’ve had there… and the hope that we can get back to it soon enough. I miss my students!!!

Playing with a bit of porcelain while working in my ever-so-quiet & isolated studio. Not a single person to chat with… which I guess is good as we need to stay safe. But I also need some human face time… even if it is from a safe distance! But still… no one!!!

So then THIS happened today! We all got an alert to our phones… the Chicago Lakefront has officially been locked-down! Thanks to all of those people who flooded the lakefront & the large groups who were not follow the social distancing guidelines yesterday… now we all get punished. Great. Thanks.

While all of us are hunkered down self-isolating…
I’m sure many of you have seen some of the press conferences going on with the Mayor, the Governor and Dr. Arwardy.

While I know it doesn’t help all that much… but it always makes me feel a little better knowing that Dr. Arwardy is working FOR US… in our best interests!

But little did you know… Dr. Arwady is actually one of my pottery students as well. She’s been taking my Tuesday night class for a few sessions now… but this last session she missed a LOT of classes, and we knew “something bad” was brewing. So she may be the official voice of Chicago Coronavirus right now… but she’ll always be just Allison to me… or maybe “Allison who LOVES the bubble glaze!!!”

Click here for a link to read a more about Allison’s story!

So yesterday while it was so BEAUTIFUL outside… and far too many idiots were flooding the lakefront without any social distance… I decided to go for a run in the other direction! Literally.

I went for a run out to the West Ridge Nature Preserve… a little unknown nugget of nature… with a couple beautiful mosaic pieces to welcome you in. Isolated enough to be totally safe for those of us still social distancing while we get out for some exercise on a beautiful day!

Another solitary bike ride along the lakefront. Started with some beautiful colors, but eventually the clouds won-out and it looks like we’re going to be gray for the rest of the day! And sadly, there were a few more “danger signs” along the way… some of which I paid attention to, some not so much!

Sadly, as I was coming home from my ride… at the northern-most entrance to the lakefront trail at Ardmore… the police were there blocking the path with a large wood-slat winter fencing?! Uh oh… I’m guessing that after yesterday when the weather was gorgeous and the lakefront was flooded with far too many people… and far too many of then NOT social distancing… I’m guessing the lakefront is now CLOSED! So now I fear that we might all be punished by a few idiots that ruined it for the rest of us! I hope the lakefront is not closed for the foreseeable future. I think I need my bike & my sunrises for my own sanity!

It’s supposed to be a beautiful day today… and it’s off to a great start. A little bit foggy & frosty this morning as I head out for my sunrise bike ride. If you look closely, there’s a lighthouse or two in there somewhere… and a downtown skyline in there too… and a lot of sunrise beauty to start my day!

I’ve kinda lost track of what day it is… but I “think” that it’s another TEXTURE TUESDAY! So here’s a stamped & soda-fired surface… actually just one side of the square vases I’m making these days. Kinda fun as I make sure that each side is a different textured pattern… get tired of one side, just turn the vase around!

My original plan was to have these sgraffito platters ready for my first art fair in April. Well, that’s been cancelled… but I’m still trying to stay on top of things. So here’s some of my latest sgraffito fun in the studio. Working on a few platters using my favorite DiamondCore carving tools!

Platter #1

Platter #2

Platter #3

Platter #4

Platter #5

So yesterday was the first Instagram Live video tour of the Archie Bray ceramic facility in Montana. I’ve never been there… so it was a great chance to watch a little tour. And the best part… it was hosted by Steven Lee who was one of my former instructors at Lillstreet. I would consider him the best teacher that I had along the way… great potter, great teacher, great mentor!

Sadly, this Instagram Live event is done… but he did say they will be doing this regularly as part of their “new normal” at The Bray. So follow them on Instagram… I think the next LIVE event is this Friday!!! Such a wonderful way for Steve to get out there to share with all of us in the clay community during these trying times! Thank you Steve… again, a wonderful mentor!

Remember, the picture below was the announcement post for yesterday… but if you Follow on Instagram, you’ll see the posting for the next Instagram Live!